Time

Autumn, leaves, tides and seasons all remind me that everything is constantly changing. "What we see around us is temporary and will soon be destroyed, but that which we can't see will last forever." 2 Cor. 4:18 Spending time with God sustains and lifts me up. I know there is a lot of sadness out there and I have had my share of it. I was devastated when my partner left me and my unborn baby - a sadness that has never fully left but I find deep consolation in Him. To anyone out there who has an aching heart - Look to Jesus - he has satisfied me and he can do the same for you.  I want to share a poem by an unknown author titled -The Loom of Time

Man's life is laid in the loom of time to a pattern he does not see, while the weavers work and the shuttles fly till the dawn of eternity.

Some shuttles are filled with silver threads and some with threads of gold, while often but the darker hues are all they may hold.

But the weaver watches with skillful eye each shuttle fly to and fro, and sees the pattern so deftly wrought as the loom moves sure and slow.

God surely planned the pattern: each thread, the dark and fair, is chosen by His master skill and placed in the web with care.

He only knows its beauty, and guides the shuttles which hold the threads so unattractive, as well as the threads of gold.

Not till each loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly, shall God reveal the pattern and explain the reason why

The dark threads were as needful In the weaver's skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver For the pattern which He planned.

Why wool?

I wash my laundry on a scrub board and hang it up to dry on a wire, metal fence. The woolen items are always first to dry - no matter how big, heavy and water logged they may be. This difference is especially noticeable on cool, overcast day's. So when I needed a new winter skirt I chose some New Zealand wool yarn and wove up some yardage. I used my antique treadle sewing machine to sew it on. Handmade clothes - if made reasonably well last a very long time. When it does wear out I will feed it to my wild red wringers in the composting bin.  
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Christmas cards for homeless kids

I designed and wove a tapestry and put the image of the finished weaving on Christmas cards. The cost of each card with an envelope is 3.25 Canadian dollars. Fifty cents of each card is going directly to purchase food for northern BC homeless youth. You pay for the  actual shipping; however if your order is 39.00 US dollars the shipping is free if you have them mailed to a continental US address. You will be reimbursed for any shipping overcharges. You should receive your card(s) within one to three weeks. If you like you can help me share the love by purchasing a card(s) at my Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheSingingLoom?ref=shop_home_edit 

To cover or not?

A year ago I read this in my bible, "out of respect for the heavenly angels who are in attendance at worship, women ought to wear something on their heads." 1 Cor. 11:10 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, "ALL scripture is God-breathed." Isn't it dangerous when you start taking out parts of the bible because it doesn't fit into the culture of our day? Or because it isn't something that you want to do?
I began to wonder - was I missing out on a blessing because I wasn't wearing a covering? I decided to give it a try for a year. It wasn't easy to sew a covering that I felt comfortable wearing. I do not wear it all the time but I do wear it most of the time. What did I learn? It encouraged greater simplicity in my attire and I pray more. I hope that when other's see me they will consider their own relationship with God. I wish that I had started wearing a covering many years ago.

Happy socks

I knit socks because the little things do matter. The reality is hand knit socks last a long time and they are hard wearing. Every summer I inspect our socks for wear and do any necessary mending. When they are worn out - and this takes years - they can be composted. There is an excellent book on sock knitting. It is called, "The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook" by Lynne Vogel. Not only does it discuss various ways to knit socks it also is about how to repair them. This year I started out with the intent to knit a proper pair of gray socks. By the time I got to the foot I realized they were too melancholy and plain gray was definitely not for me. What they needed was color - like my other socks. So I added a few bright stripes in the foot and now they are my happy socks.
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A plan

With each fruit tree I plant and nourish I do not care whether I gather it's fruit. What truly matters and what I ask myself is - what am I leaving behind after I am gone? The beautiful, giving nature of the tree inspires me. In them I see God's plan for me and humanity.
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In the garden

Echinacea is a favourite in my garden. Plants or seeds are available for purchase at Richter's Herbs, a canadian mail order company. Echinacea is highly regarded as a blood purifier in the treatment of diseases caused by impurities. It increase's bodily resistance to infection by strengthening the immune system. Two excellent books on this herb are; The Echinacea Handbook by Christopher Hobbs and Echinacea Nature's Immune Enhancer by Stephen Foster.  The flowers have a slight fragrance and the herb needs staking as it grows to about 3-3.5 feet high. I grow echinacea purpurea as the roots, flowering tops and leaves are all considered medicinal. As I observe the honeybee and echinacea I ask myself - am I as helping as I can be?